He does, however, ask us to produce fruit consistent with the power of the Spirit working within us. That fruit – things like love, peace, patience, truth, discernment, and more – is the evidence of His presence. All the fruit in the world is eternally worthless, though, if it doesn’t lead to the opportunity to share Jesus’ message with another person. Our ultimate goal isn’t just love; it’s sharing His love. It isn’t only peace; it’s His peace. It isn’t human righteousness; it’s His righteousness.
That was our focus in the last section Go Beyond.
In this section, we’ll begin a focus on the last quality the author of Hebrews desires for us to have before he returns to an explanation of the elusive Melchizedek. I encourage you to read Hebrews 6:11-12 as we begin to learn the certainty of our hope.
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| Click picture for a printable handout for this section. |
The Certainty of Hope, Part 1
Hebrews chapter 6 has been intense! I have a feeling the chapters to come aren’t going to get any easier. We’ll probably have to start taking smaller bites for each section – too much may be hard to chew!
What you did there, do it here (6:11)
Here’s a little tip for Bible study that I’ve learned through the years – never ignore the small words. Sometimes the little words are critical to helping us understand the point of the passage. They especially help us understand how one section links to another.
This verse starts with the little word now. In this case, it shows us that what the author is about to write is opposed to and distinguished from what he just wrote. He also shows the distinction by telling the readers to “demonstrate the same diligence.”
Now, demonstrate the same diligence. In other words, what you did there – now do it here. There, referring back to the previous verses, you bore fruit. You served people. You showed love. In all those things, you were diligent. Now, do it here… and the “here” is the final realization of your hope.
What is the full and final realization of our hope? Let’s define a few terms and create a mental image to help us understand.
FINAL REALIZATION
The word used here is a combination of two words. Together they communicate the idea to wear something completely and constantly.
An acquaintance of mine is an avid baseball fan – especially for his home team, the Kansas City Royals. He recently made the local news in an interview as he entered the stadium on opening day of the season. I have to think one reason they stopped him for an interview was the attention he drew from his clothing. He came decked out and ready to cheer covered completely in Royals clothing – pajama pants, t-shirt, coat, scarf, hat, tennis shoes, and even a few extra items in case he got cold. He had covered every inch in royal blue and white with the famous Royals logo appearing all over. The Royals played the Chicago White Sox that cold spring day but no one in the stands would have assumed my friend was a White Sox fan. One glance and they knew exactly for which team he was cheering. This wasn’t a one-time event, either. He’s been at the stadium on opening day every year for 32 years – never missed a home opener.
HOPE
What is our hope? Past studies of this little word taught me that although we use it synonymously with “wish,” God’s Word uses it as absolute and concrete. No wishing when it comes to our hope in Christ – it’s all reality!
Our hope is…
- A reason to rejoice (Romans 5:2)
- The glory of God (Romans 5:2)
- The end result of our suffering (Romans 5:3-4)
- Never a reason for disappointment (Romans 5:5)
- Creation set free from bondage (Romans 8:20-21)
- Our bodies set free from decay (Romans 8:23-24)
- To reflect God’s glory (2 Corinthians 3:7-18)
- A calling God wants us to know (Ephesians 1:18)
- Stored up for us in heaven (Colossians 1:5)
- The message of the gospel (Colossians 1:22-23)
- Eternal life (Titus 1:2-3)
- The second coming of Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13)
- Alive (1 Peter 1:3)
- In God (1Peter 1:21)
- Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 1:1)
FINAL REALIZATION OF HOPE
The final realization of our hope is to be fully clothed in the reality of what God has done for us and what awaits us. When someone sees my friend at the Royals’ stadium, they don’t wonder for which team he cheers – they know because he’s clothed in it.
Hope is a little harder though. It’s easy to gather some Royals’ clothes and look like a fan. I can’t give you a bunch of clothing items that will be a physical, tangible display of your hope in God. You can’t go to a department store and buy a new wardrobe of hope. So how do we wear hope constantly and continually?
My Sunday morning class helped me put together a list of ideas…
- We have to transform our minds (Romans 12:2). We can’t think like the world thinks. The world offers no hope – only despair and destruction.
- We have to focus our thoughts (Philippians 4:8). We purposely have to turn away from corruption and focus on the goodness and beauty found only in Jesus.
- We have to know Him (2 Peter 1:3). We can’t fully wear the hope Jesus offers us if we don’t know His message. We may start out simple but the more we grow in our knowledge, the more hope will become evident.
- We have to speak a message of hope (Ephesians 4:29). Have you heard the expression what goes in must come out? The more we do the first three in this list, the more hope is going to come out in all we say. We will learn to look at the most painful situations and see hope rather than despair.
This is the plan – this is how it works (verse 12)
The author of Hebrews wants us to live in the final realization of our hope so we don’t become lazy. There’s that word again – lazy. He already called the readers lazy in a different area. He said they were too lazy to understand how Jesus’ priesthood falls within the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:11). Let’s be honest, here. I think that’s an area many of us today still don’t understand. Melchizedek is a confusing character.
You know what, though? Understanding the relationship between Jesus’ priesthood and Melchizedek’s isn’t a requirement for our salvation. However, understanding the relationship between the foundation and the structure is integral to our salvation. Salvation doesn’t belong to those who sit on the foundation of the Law and message of the Old Testament. It did at the time the Old Testament played out, but it doesn’t now. With Jesus’ first coming, we now find salvation in an understanding of His message, His death, and His resurrection. Both messages require faith; one looked forward to His coming while the other one looks back.
We can’t become lazy in attaining the final realization of our hope. It’s too critical. Jesus no longer walks among us; even His disciples are long gone. This reality was sinking in for the Jewish believers when Hebrews was written decades after Jesus’ ascension into heaven. How much more does it hold true for us today? However, Jesus’ plan was to leave the gospel message in the hands of His followers. Again, that was true then and it’s still true today. We have to understand this message of hope because the world needs it. Not only do they need it desperately, but we’re the ones entrusted to offer it to them.
If we can grasp Jesus’ message of hope and show it to the world, then we see the whole picture rather than only a small bit of His redemptive plan. We understand we must step up from the foundation on to the structure offered by Jesus. We even understand that stepping up will lead to action on our part because of love. We understand we need to tell others about Him. If we can grasp this message of hope and share it with the hurting world, then we are wearing hope that everyone can see. They’ll look at us and know whose team we’re on.
What can I do?
Earlier I shared a few ways we can clothe ourselves in hope. How might you incorporate them into your daily life? Can you add any to the list?
Persecution increases; suffering intensifies throughout our world. Why do you think God places so much importance on the message of hope?
How can you share Jesus’ message of hope with someone today?
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